The Olympic Games started holding arts competitions with the victors awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, between 1912-48. Medals were awraded for architecture, painting, literature and music, usually with sport as inspiration. London 1948 was the last Cultural Olympiad in this form.

From 1952 a series of cultural events to complement the sport was launched, becoming bigger with each games. It was in Barcelona 1992 that the Cultural Olympiad became a four-year event, marking the city's entire tenure as host.